A while back I started a series of threads which tried to promote a discussion about newly released albums that may or may not have been well known in hopes of bringing these albums to the attention of PA forum members, and also in hopes of doing a sort of "book of the month" discussion about these albums. These threads met with limited success with most of them only receiving minimal participation, but I think that those who regularly participated in them did get some enjoyment out of them, and some people may even have discovered albums that they may otherwise not have known about. I am considering revisiting that concept in the future, but for the time being, I have decided to try something new and maybe create a series of discussion threads to discuss "classic" albums.

Anyone who pays any attention to the "What Am I Listening To Now?" threads has probably noticed my recent Queensr˙che marathon and being in that state of mind I have decided to try out this thread concept with their classic spy concept album Operation: Mindcrime. I think that many, if not most, forum members are familiar with this album, and that it is generally considered to be Queensr˙che's best album. Why is this? Is it the music? Is it the concept? Is it Geoff Tate's golden pipes? Is it because of sexual fantasies involving nuns and guns?

At any rate my hope is that maybe this thread will result in a nice interactive discussion regarding this album and its place in prog rock/metal history. Your feelings. Your thoughts on the concept. Your thoughts on your enjoyment or disappointment with Part 2. Favorite individual tracks and whether or not they should be heard separately or whether it is a requirement to listen to the whole album.

I bought this album when it originally came out, having already owned their first two releases. Honestly? Though I thought the concept was very interesting, I found the album itself to be a bit lacking compared to their previous. Not exactly sure why. Maybe I was a bit annoyed at it obviously being a metal version of The Wall. I haven't listened to it in quite a while, so I probably should do that before I comment further!

The only Queensr˙che album I've heard. It's a really good album, IMO, but I feel it loses some steam after The Needle Lies which it doesn't pick up again until the last song, Eyes of a Stranger. Track 1-9 and 15 are excellent though.

I'm listening to it for the first time right now. It's rockin' and catchy. No idea what the concept is about, but musically it's fun and engaging. And the singer sounds a little like Rob Halford, which is cool too.

Edited by HolyMoly - November 16 2012 at 12:36

My other avatar is a Porsche

It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle if it is lightly greased.

Curious your thoughts on the concept. I believe that the gist of the story is that Nikki becomes a hit man for Dr. X who is the leader of the revolution. The idea being that the underground intends to overthrow the corrupt 1%. It appears as though Nikki has carried out various hits for Dr. X. Dr. X orders Nikki to kill the nun, Mary, as well as the priest, Father William, because they know too much. Not sure if they were part of the revolution, or if Nikki had confided in them about what he had done, and by so doing they became a liability. Mary had worked as a prostitute and Father William had "saved her from the streets", but "he takes her once a week on the alter like a sacrifice", which I assume means that the Father is being unpriestly. Nikki does kill the priest, but he tells Mary that he was sent to kill her and that he wants to run away with her. He tells Dr. X that he quits, and of course Dr. X tells him that he can't quit. When Nikki gets back to Mary he finds her dead. (I believe that Dr. X had her killed and that Nikki didn't do it, unless he did it through mind control. Anyhow, he gets arrested. He doesn't believe in love, and he is placed in a straight jacket and placed on sedatives.

Is there a hidden story behind the story? Did these things really happen or is he just insane? Did he do these things because he was on drugs?

I always thought it could be insanity. That's one interpretation. The entire album is supposed to take place between the span of a single minute in the mind of the main character, Nikki. The idea is that he relives these mad visions each minute for years. I think many of the songs could be taken without the overall concept. 'Speak' is a vicious (but real vague) political attack. Always liked that line 'burn the white-house down'. They already tried that, but hey!

Good album, and one of the first essential albums in Progressive Metal. I wouldn't call it a masterpiece, but it is very good.

+1

I second this opinion!

Their tour with Dream Theater was excellent ... and that rendition of Who Are You, was tops ... and one of the few renditions of The Who, that are worth hearing.

PS: I honestly do not like the label "progressive metal" ... why? ... if you listen to Gong's You, on side 2, you have the same thing ... loud rock music ... just missing the compression and the lousy drumming, of course! And there is a lot of Hawkwind that would/could/should be considered "progressive metal" as well ... but suggesting that Mindcrime's lyrics are more important than Hawkwind's ... is scary ... they are all good in their own way ... specially when it is at least 25 years apart!

Edited by moshkito - November 17 2012 at 17:55

... none of the hits, none of the time ... you will, eventually, find your own art inside! Try it! www.pedrosena.com

You cannot post new topics in this forumYou cannot reply to topics in this forumYou cannot delete your posts in this forumYou cannot edit your posts in this forumYou cannot create polls in this forumYou cannot vote in polls in this forum